Manufacture of cigars



March 4, 1941-l F. H. B. sTELzER MANUFACTURE oF cIGARs 7 Sheets-Sheetl 1 Filed May 29, 1936 Fig.5

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' MANUFACTURE 0F CIGARS Filed May 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 W' QJ@ Q NTT@ R N Y.'

March 4, 1941 F. H. B. sTELzER 2,233,493

MANUFACTURE OF CIGARS Filed May 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 SWW/mfom VRANL Ha-TELLER March 4, 1941- F. H. B.- sTELzER MANUFACTURE 0F CIGARS Filed May 29, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATT@ RN e v.

March 4, 1941-4 F. H. B. STELZER MNUFACTURE 0F CIGARS 7 Sheets-Sheet S Filed May 29, 1936 Fig. '13

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Patented Mar. 4, 19141 UNITED vSTATES MAN UFACTURE F CIGARS Franz Heinrich Benno Stelzer, Dresden, Germany,

assigner to Universelle Cigarettenmaschinen- Fabrik J. C. Mueller & Co., Dresden, Germany y Application May 29, 1936, Serial No. 82,595

In Germany June 3, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cigars and more particularly to the distribution of the ller to the shaping means for the cigars.

An object o-f this invention is to provide an improved means for feeding the filler for the cigar to the shaping means so that the filler will be evenly conveyed to the shaping means.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind means for periodically discharging tobacco to the shaping means, the

tobacco to be discharged being received in a hopper after having been evenly discharged into the hopper.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for initially forming the filler in the form of a ribbon which may be compressed sufficiently to retain its formation in the receiving hopper and from which predetermined quantities are discharged for conveyance to the shaping means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in detail of a device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2l is a sectional view, partly in detail,

taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the device, showing the shaking trough in its uppermost position.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the shaking trough in a lower position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the shaking trough.

40 Figure 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the eccentric operating means for the shaking trough.

Figure 6a is a detail sketch showing the action of the members 8, I4, I5, I6, I1 and I8.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section, partly 45 in elevation of the device and showing one form of smoothing means for the tobacco within the shaking trough.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan of the frame of the device and the shaking trough.

5o Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, of the device and showing another form of smoothing and compressing means for the tobacco within the trough.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the trough and 55 compressing means shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a detail side elevation of the trough and compressing means shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 11a is a diagrammatic view showing the line of travel of the discharge end of the trough.

Figure 11b is a diagrammatic view showing the 5 line of travel ofthe receiving end of the trough.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary enlarged verti-cal section, partly in detail, of the device with another form of smoothing and compressing means combined with the chute. 10

Figure 13 is a top plan of the trough and cornpressing means `shown in Fig. 12.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section, partly in detail, of the device with a further form -of smoothing and compressing 15 means combined with the trough.

Figure 15 is a top plan of the trough and compressing means shown in Fig. 14.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 2 designates a hopper 20 which is stationary and which is constructed in the form of a truncated cone disposed in inverted position. The hopper 2 is provided with a discharge opening 3 which is regulated as to size by means of a plate or valve 5. Tobacco is dis- 25 charged into the hopper 2 from above, and the loose tobacco in the hopper 2 is rotated by means of radial ns or blades 4 which are secured to a centrally disposed body I which is secured to a drive shaft and operated from a Suitable operat- 30 ing means (not shown).

An agitating trough 6 is disposed below the discharge opening 3 of the hopper 2 and is provided with upstanding 4side walls 1. The trough 6 is .provided with a plurality of transversely extend- 35 ing ribs 6a, which as shown in Fig. 5 increase in number per unit of length in the direction of the movement of the tobacco thereover. The ribs 6a as shown in the drawings, are less in number per unit length at the receiving end of the trough 6 than at the outlet end thereof, for the reason that at the receiving end the tobacco fed thereto by the hopper 2 is of greater depth than at the outlet end of the trough, and is also agitated to a greater extent at the receiving end of the trough than at the outlet end thereof, the amplitude of the elliptical path being larger at .the receiving end of the trough than at the outlet end thereof. The trough 6 is mounted on a frame member 8, and the rear end of the frame r 8 is mounted on an eccentrically disposed crank or shaft I0 which is secured to a shaft I2 The shaft I2 has a gear II secured thereto, and this gear II meshes with an intermediate gear I3. The intermediate gear I3 meshes with a forward 5 by means of a belt 22 or the like, the shaft 2l being connected to a suitable powenmeans (not shown). When the shaft I2 is rotated'the trough 6 is given a rocking motion as well :as a forward and rearward motion so that the tobacco discharged onto the trough 6 will 'be' gradually forced forwardly over the ribs-'6a. The'rear end g of the trough 6 is closed by a rear wall 35, as`

shown in Figs, 3 and 4, whereas the forward or discharge end of the trough is open 'and dis-y charges the tobacco in a ribbon into a receiving hopper 23, the walls of which converge in a downward direction. The tobacco flowY which is discharged from the trough 6 takes on a contour such as shown in Figure 11a, of elliptical shape, in conformity with the movement of the discharge end of the trough 5, which flowhas a greater width thandepth, and which fiowof tobacco moves to the shaping device with such contour.

1 A vertically disposed passage 24 is disposed beneath the hopper 23 and discharges into a shaping channel 25. A valve or gate 26 is disposed between the bottom of the hopper 23 and the *top of the passage 24, and this valve 25 is connected as at 2l' to the upper end of a bell crank `28 which ismounted on a pivot 29 carried by the frame of the device. The lower arm of the bell crank 23 is provided with a roller 3| which engages an eccentric 32 mounted on a shaft I9. The shaft IQ is rot-ated by means of a belt- -201 or the like which is trained over a pulley or the like carriedA by the drive shaft 2 I. v

The lower arm of the bell crank 28 is maintained in contact-with the eccentric 32 by means of a contracting spring 3B. The shaping channel 25 has a pusher or slide member 33 movablev therein, and this lpusher 33 is moved by means of Ia rod 34 which is operated in a well known manner.

In Fig, 3 the bearings 9 and I'I for the Itrough supporting member 8 are shown in their uppermost position, and in Fig. 4 these bearings-are shown intheir lowermost position. In the de'- vice shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, `no lcompressing means is used with the trough 6. f j

Referring now to Figs. '7 and 8, the tobacco whichis discharged .into the trough 6 is evened off by means of a rake constructed in theform of a plurality of vertically disposed spaced apart tines or rodst which are secured to the arm' 36 of a bracket .'ii of L-shape. A clamping'bar "49 which is secured to the `arm 36 by means'of bolts 4I orthe like holds the tines or rods 39 in ad-` justed position over .the trough G, The bracket 36 is provided with an elongated slot 38 through which a bolt 3'I engages so that the rake may be adjusted relativeto the discharge end of the trough E. v

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a devicesimilar to .that disclosed in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, but in Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a combined tobacco smoothing and, compressing -means oyeris secured to the frame of the device by means of an adjusting bolt 42, and bolts 45 engage through a clamping bar 45 which holds the upright leg 41 of the tobacco smoothing and compressing member onto the bracket IIS- 44. This smoothing and compressing member is provided la .substantially horizontal por-tion 48 which is bent upwardly as at 49. This-upwardly extending portion 49 constitutes the smoothing and -compressing portion of the member secured to the bracket 43-44 and the upper end of the extension 49 is bent reversely as at 50, As the trough 6 moves forwardly beneath the smoothing and compressing vmember 4'I, 48, 49, 50 the tobacco is smoothed out and compressed into a ribbon of desired thickness which is subsequently `discharged o Ver the forward end of .the -trough 6.

-,Fig.:11 shows the trough 6 with the operating means therefor and the combined smoothing .and

' compressing device embodied in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 11a shows by a horizontal ellipse y the path ofthe- .forward or discharge end of the trough, `and Fig. 11b shows by a substantially vertically disposedI ellipse :I: theA path of the rear or receiving end B of the trough 6.

The. tobacco may also be smoothed and com.- pressed in `its/movement through the trough 6, as shown in Figs, 12 and 13 by means of a sheet -of `metal. having an upright portion 5I which'is secured tothe same type of bracket 43-44 shown lin Figs. '9.and 10. This sheet of metal is bent arcuately as at'53, and then extended upwardly in a straight line as at 52.

The tobacco discharged into the trough 6 may also be smoothed out and compressed by means of a rotatable drum or roller 5,4, as shown, in Figs.' 14 'and l5. This drum .54 is mounted on a shaft 55 which 'isjournalled in slidable bearings 55. The bearings 5G are slidable in guides 56a carried by the frame of the device, and springs 5l and 58 engageon opposite sides of the bearing block 56. A pulley 59 is Vsecured to the shaft 55 and a belt l is trained over this pulley 59 and also over a drive pulley Si. vA n idler pulley $2' engages theV tated reverse to the movement of the tobacco.

In the use and operation lof this device, the loose and shredded tobacco is discharged into the truncated stationary hopper 2 and discharged therefrom under the action of the rotating blades 4 carried by the body'I. The tobacco from the kel() static-nary Vhopper 2 `is dischargedV through the 7 to 15 inclusive. Thecam 32 will effect opening ofthe valve or gate 26 at stated intervals sothat theV desired-quantity of `tobacco will be discharged into the shaping channel 25' where the pusher or slide member 33 will move vthe tobacco forwardly under'the action 'of the' rod 34,. Y

This device will provide a means whereby .the

filler for the cigars may be evenly packed through a mechanical means, and in this manner a more uniform quality of filler may be obtained so that the shape of the cigar may be likewise made unform.

The advantage gained by having fewer ribs per unit of length at the receiving end is that the amount of tobacco is largest at that point. On the other hand, the amplitude of vibration is smallest at the outlet end, and since the tobacco is there at its lowest depth being more and more compressed, due to the shaking, smaller ribs of greater number per unit length are used.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

In a feeding means for a tobacco filler pressing machine, the combination of a feeding trough having a substantially horizontal floor, and having at one end a receiving end for receiving tobacco dropped thereon, and at the other end an outlet end discharging the tobacco at that end after it has been moved by the trough from its receiving end, said oor having a plurality of ribs extending transversely of the trough from the receiving end to the outlet end thereof, a frame below said trough for supporting it, with the trough extending forwardly of the frame, means for moving the lower part of the frame at its spaced lower ends, alternately up and down and forward and backward to give the trough a motion in an elliptical path, and a presser member supported independently of said trough near its outlet end having an open bight facing the tobacco 'as it is moved by the trough towards the presser, the movement of the trough being alternately towards and from said presser to a1- ternately compress and loosen the tobacco between the presser and the trough, whereby the loose tobacco received at the receiving end is brought together in a ribbon-like discharge at the outlet end.

FRANZ HEINRICH BENNO STELZER. 

